Level



wfs. DYER l June 27, 1933.

Filed March 24, 1932- NEYS Patented .lime 27, 193? UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE WILFHD 8. DUB, F BATTLE CREEK, IICBIGAN Lavar.

Application llled latch 24, 1932. Serial lo. 600,864.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a level having illuminated spirit tubes.

Second, to rovide imdproved in eans for supporting a attery an lamp within the bod of the level.

T ird, to provide an improved switching mechanism for the lighting circuit accessible at one end of the level. A. l

Fourth, to rovide an improved level having these desirable features, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and eicient in operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a view inside elevation of a level embodying my invention, a portion of the body being broken away and shown in vertical section. n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the level, and

Fig. 3 is an enlar fragmentary longitudinal section showing the switch and adjacent parts in detail. p

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 indicates a level havin a wood stock orv body provided with cavities in which are. mounted a horizontal spirit tube 2 and .a vertical spirit tube 3. The stock has a longitudinal bore or e 4 opening to the spirit tube cavities. dry cell battery 5 is disposed in one end of the bore 4 for furnishing current to the electric lamp 6 which is carried by the socket meinber 7. The lamp 6 is positioned directly under the horizontal spirit tube 2 and in line with the vertical spirit tube 3 at the intersection of the transverse axes of the tubes, so that the tubes are illuminated by the direct rays of the lamp 6.

The socket member 7 is integral with the strap 8 of conducting material, which is disposed in a groove 9 in the bore 4 and has a downturned ange 10 engaging the shoulder 11 of the recess 12 in the end of the stock.

The paper casing on the battery 5 insulates it from the strap 8.

The recess 12 is rovided with a countersunk cover plate 13 aving an. opening 14 for the push button 15 and a slot 16 for the pivot flan e 17 on the switch 18. The late 13 is hel in place by the screws 19. he switch 18 is provided with a stud 20 opposite the push button 15 for positioning the outer end of compression s ring 21 which is disposed between the switc 18 and the end of the battery 5 to urge the switch to open position and the battery terminal 22 in contact with the lamp terminal 23. The sprin also constitutes a conductor connecting e bottom of their piet/1er tiotheswitch. losed e g n circuit is c ressing the push buttn 15 until the switZhPlS contacts with the ange 10 of the strap 8' the circuit ineiuding hat@ terminal 22,1nmp terminal 23, lam 6, soc et member 7,'strap /8 flange 10 switc 18 spring 21 and batte 5f The cirbuit is norinally opeii, the Arinr 21 ur the switch 18 away'froiii the n 10 foutlis purpose. The'pivot arm 17 gli the switch 18 coaets with the opening or slot 16 in the plate 13 to hold the switch in position and acts as a fulcrum for the switch when the ush button is actuated.

T e level is particularly useful in dark places, the spirit tubes being illuminated by merely pressing the push button 15. Furthermore, with my invention wood stock levels now in quite generalv use may be converted readily into self-illuminating levels. The dry cell mag be renewed by merely removing the plate 1 Heretofore, car nters and others have used matches to iluminate the s irit tubes in dark places. This practice is angerous. 9 and is made unnecessary by my invention, the level being used in the conventional maii- `ner where the natural visibility is good and in dark places b touching the push button, as pointed out a ove.`

I have illustrated and described iii imrovements in an embodiment which have ound very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclo- 1 sure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A level having a wood stock provided with an end recess, horizontal and ve ical spirit tube cavities, a lon 'tudinal bore op eI 1- in to said end recess an said cavitief., spirit tu s mounted in said cavities, a strap of con-` ductin material disposed longitudinally of said bore and having a lamp receiving socket member at its inner end and a switch contact flange at lts outer end engaging the shoulder formed by said end recess, an electric lamp carried by said socket member at the lntersectlon of the transverse axes of said spirit tubes, a dry cell disposed in said bore with a terminal in contact with the corresponding terminal of said lamp, a countersunk cover plate for sald recess secured tothe end of the stock and havin a push button opening and a switch ivot ange receiving opening, a switch havlng a pivot flange disposed in said last lnamed opening and a raised push button in said first named opening and a spring positioning stud opposite said push button, and a compression spring of conducting material disposed between said switch and the bottom of the batter 25.7 A level having a stock of insulatin material provided with an end recess, horizontal and vertical spirit tubes, a longitudinal bore opening to said end recess and said spirit tubes, a strap of conducting material disposed in said bore and having a lamp receivmg socket member at its inner end and a switch cont-act at its outer end, an electric lamp carried by said socket member at the intersection of the transverse axes of said spirit tubes, a dry cell disposed in said bore with its central end terminal in contact with the corresponding terminal of said lamp, a cover plate for said recess secured to the end of the stock and having a push button opening and a switch pivot arm receiving openin a switch having a pivot arm disposed in saldlast named opening and a raised push button in said first named opening and a spring positioning stud opposite said ush button, and a compression spring of con ucting material dis osed, between said switch and the bottom o the battery.

3. A level having a stock provided with an end recess, horizontal and vertical spirit tube cavities, a longitudinal bore opening to said end recess and said cavities, spirit tubes mounted in said cavities, a strap yof conducting material disposed in said bore and having a lamp receiving socket member at its inner end and a lateral switch contact at its outer end engaging the bottom of said recess, an electric lamp carried by said socket member, a dry cell longitudinally dis in said bore with its central termina in contact with the corresponding terminal of said lam a cover plate for said recess secured to t e end of the stock and having a push button opening, a switch having a raised push button in said opening, and a compression spring of conducting material disposed between said switch and the bottom of thel battery.

4. A level having a stock provided with an end recess, horizontal and vertical s irit tubes, a longitudinal bore opening to sai end recess and said spirit tubes, a strap of conducting material disposed in said bore and having a lamp receiving socket member at its inner end and a switch contact at its outer end, an electric lamp carried b said socket member at the intersection of t e transverse axes of said spirit tubes, a dr cell disposed in said bore with its centra end terminal in contact with the corresponding terminal of said lamp, a cover plate for said recess secured to the end of the stock and having a push button opening, a switch having a raised push button in said first named opening and a spring positioning stud opposite said push button, and a compression sprin of conductin material disposed between sai switch and t e bottom of the battery.

5. A level having a stock provided with an end recess, horizontal and vertical spirit tubes, a longitudinal bore opening t. said spirit tubes, a strap of conducting material disposed in said bore and having a lamp socket member at its inner end and a lateral switch contact at its outer end engaging the bottom of said recess, a lamp in said socket member, a battery disposed in said bore with an end terminal in contact with the corresponding terminal of the lamp, a cover plate for said recess having a push button o ning, a switch disposed in said recess and aving a push button in said opening, and a conducting spring disposed between said switch and said battery, the spring actin to support the parts in longitudinal assem led relation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set I my hand.

WILFRID S. DYER. 

